If the Broom Fits (9 page)

A
slow clap
started from the couch across the room. I didn't have to look away from the broken paneling to know it was Orion. “You aren't
completely
daft. That's good to know.”

“Who do I speak with about trading you in for a different spirit guide?”

Leslie laughed. “You can have Grandma Erma.”

Orion winked at her. “Frost is stuck with me, I'm afraid. Has been since the day she was born.”

“I repeat. I need a new guide. Mine is obviously defective.”

Leslie and I found a hammer and a makeshift pry bar and removed the rest of the paneling until the entire door was visible. There was no sign there had ever been a handle—but my mother had been a witch. Maybe we didn't need one.

I said a quick spell in my head and moved my fingers in a sweeping motion. The door opened, groaning the whole way. A light came on automatically inside the closet—except it wasn't a closet. It was an entire room, much larger than was possible in the tiny space beneath the stairs. I glanced at Leslie.

“It's an illusion,” she said. “Don't cross the threshold. It's probably designed to protect whatever is inside.”

“The book,” I said and she nodded.

Orion was still watching us from the couch only now he had a bucket of popcorn on his lap. “What do you know about the doorway in the cellar?” I asked, feeling a trickle of satisfaction when he choked on a kernel.

“Best to leave that one alone,” he said recovering fast.

“Where does it lead?” Leslie asked.

“Somewhere between the underworld and the stars. You never quite know what will come through if it's opened.”

I frowned. “What is it doing there? Better yet, what was my mother trying to do with it?”

His crystal clear hazel eyes met mine. “Trying to free me.”

Understanding poured over me. That was his angle. He wanted to be freed of his curse too. She was trying to help him, but was that before or after she was a dark witch? “Why didn't it work?” I asked.

His head tilted in consideration. “I have thought a lot about that over the years. I don't really know how her magic works, but I think my connection with her wasn't enough of a pull. Space is infinite and I am but a star. She never should've attempted it.”

I chewed on my lip. “What came through?”

He raised an eyebrow. “It's hard to say. I don't know how many times she attempted it before...”

“Before what?” Leslie said when I couldn't bring myself to ask the question I had a sneaking suspicion I already knew the answer to.

“Before something came through that she hadn't planned on and Frost's father died,” he said. And with that, a breeze moved through the house, carrying Orion away.

I stood frozen solid. Orion had been the catalyst.

“Frost.” Leslie reached for me, startling me back to life as I dodged her hands. “Are you okay?”

“I'm fine. Just cold. I'm going to stand by the fire for a moment. See if you can figure out how to get into the closet, okay?”

She nodded and watched me go.

My mother had been trying to help a friend and had gotten the father of her unborn child killed. But why try to bring him back. Yes, it was tragic, but why risk everything?

The front door banged open and five people barreled into the house in long strides: three woman and two men. A woman with flame red hair that hung in tangled knots down her back looked straight at me with rust colored eyes. “So you're the one we've been waiting for?”

I lifted a dubious brow and took off my gloves, painstakingly slowly. I stretched and flexed my fingers, not sure if they knew enough to understand the threat, then finally looked up at them. “Who would you be?”

Her gray eyes traveled up and down me, frowning at what she found. “Your coven.”

I blinked. “
My
coven,” I repeated and glanced at Leslie, whose face wasn't its usual smiling and laughing self. “I wasn't aware I had another coven,” I said lightly.

“We've been waiting for you,” a man with deep blue highlights in his dark hair said. “Some even began to doubt your existence.” His eyes flickered to the red headed woman.

“So you would understand our need to see the great Frost Darkmore for ourselves. And perhaps to make sure you are really all that was promised,” the redhead said.

“I take it you're the leader.” I nodded toward the red headed woman.

Her chin lifted slightly. “Alexis Deroche.”

None of them looked old enough to have known my mother. How had these people determined they were my coven at all? “Look, I don't know who any of you are—I can't say that I care either. I'm only here for a day or two, then I'm leaving again. I really don't have need of any of you, so you don't have to worry about me coming and trying to take over. Your position is safe. I don't want to be in your coven.”

A woman with very short brown hair and warm laughing eyes stepped forward. “Alexis likes to boss us around, but whether or not you're here for long or will be here in the future, you are still our high priestess. It has always been so. It's the way it was written. When we couldn't find you, we left it up to the goddess to bring you to us and now you are here.”

Everyone except Alexis nodded. She glared at me. This was the last thing I needed. I took a deep breath. “Well, let's just keep thinking of me as a member at large, okay? See ya.” I waved them toward the door. “I have things to do and you're in the way.”

No one moved at all and now they were all frowning at me. Leslie stood nearer to me, but not too close. “How do you know about Frost?” Leslie asked.

Alexis gave her a look that could ice a sidewalk in the middle of a heat wave. “Who are you?”

“Answer her question,” I said, taking a step toward the woman and they all took a step back. So at least some of them probably knew what I was. I resisted the urge to rub my temples or better yet, just walk out of the room.

“We've always known about her. She's the oldest of us.” The short-haired woman must have seen the blank looks on our faces. “We're the children of Kilkenny. All of our parents, grandparents, and great grandparents as far back as there has been a town here have been in a coven together. It's a birthright. The oldest or the strongest always leads. We know Frost is the oldest and the strongest too.”

“Rumor and speculation,” Alexis said. “We haven't even determined she is who she says she is. She could be lying.”

“I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself. I'm Leslie, Frost's friend. What's everyone's name?” Leslie asked the witch with short brown hair.

“Aisha,” she said with a wide smile that showed off her straight white teeth. “This is Terrick, and this is Angel,” she said, pointing to the woman I saw outside. The first one, Terrick, was tall and rangy with hair that fell into cherub-like curls around his mischievous eyes. Angel was much shorter with long super straight brown hair, delicate features, understated almond eyes, and bright red lipstick. “And this is Dom.” The man with black hair streaked in blue, a nose ring, and all sorts of tattoos winked at me.

“It's great to meet you,” Leslie said. “Why don't we all have a seat?”

I shot her a look to which she immediately fired back her own “don't be rude” scowl. I put my gloves back on, though I couldn't see the point in bothering with any of them when we had finally found something interesting in the house and Orion had already given me plenty to think about.

One by one everyone chose a seat. I remained standing near the fireplace, hoping it would prompt them not to get too comfortable because one way or another they were leaving.

“You all grew up together?” Leslie said. “That's pretty great. Your coven's bond must be very strong.”

There were a few shrugs, but most of the eyes just watched me like I was a three-headed puppy—half horror and half aw, she's so cute in her deformity. My eyes narrowed at the thought.

“We fight like siblings,” Aisha said. “But mostly, it works. It will be good to add some new blood to the group. Well, old blood, but new to us.”

I rolled my eyes. One more group I would be the outsider in.

“Are you a necromancer too?” Terrick asked Leslie before giving me a little smile. “I'd love to wield that sort of power.”

My eye twitched. I ground my teeth together.

“She needs to go through a series of tests to prove she is who she says she is. I'm not buying it,” Alexis said. “Just look at her. Do you see any great strength? Even with her, I don't think Winter can be brought back.”

That was it. I'd had enough. “Let's get two things abundantly clear: I'm not joining your coven and it will be over my dead body that my mother will ever be brought back,” I said at nearly a shout. My head was throbbing and I didn't want to do this now. I wanted to get what I came for and get out before Orion came back again. I needed to think. I needed to be alone. “I don't know any of you, and I wish to whatever's up there listening that people would stop telling me what I should or shouldn't be doing or what my mother wanted or how I should feel about her. But most of all, I want to be alone. I don't have anything to prove to any of you. You want to test me, well, fuck you. Come touch my hand. There's your test. You think it's fun to have power over the dead? Well, then you're an idiot. I don't want to get to know new people, especially stupid ones. And I don't want to talk about how I'm feeling.” I glared at Leslie and she rolled her eyes. “Just stay away from me.” I stormed out of the room.

“She's had a rough day,” I could hear Leslie apologize for me.

“Gah!” I yelled as I slammed the front door behind me and charged straight out into the blizzard.

I leaned into the wind as I pushed forward toward the gate. A couple of times, the gusts were strong enough to knock me back, but that only pissed me off more. Orion couldn't hold me hostage here, not if I wanted to leave, and he certainly wasn't going to keep my car, clothes, and cell phone prisoner. I wanted all of it or I would die trying to get it.

I got to the gate. I tried rattling it, magic, and just shouting, but nothing worked.

“Damn it,” I yelled into the wind. “Whatever she promised you was a lie, okay? That's what she was. A liar. A self-serving asshole. A narcissist, incapable of love. She fooled you. It happens. I can't help you, and keeping me here won't change that. I can't even help myself.” The last part came out softer and somehow more painfully.

The weather stopped around me, though it continued to rage outside the five-foot perimeter surrounding me. Orion reappeared. “You honestly believe that, even after what you have seen?”

I stared at the glistening snow. “All I've seen is what is in that house, which is practically nothing. I could make up some pretty fairy tale, but how would that be any different from any other orphan girl saying her mom and dad were going to come and find her someday, take her home, so they could live happily ever after. That isn't reality. In reality we aren't saved. We save ourselves.”

“Ask her then. I'm sure she'd love to talk with you.”

“It's hard to ask a dead woman.” I headed for the woods, and Orion fell into step with me. If I couldn't get through the fence, maybe I could get around it.

“You're a necromancer. You
can
, in fact, talk to the dead.”

“Obviously, she has her version of the truth. The problem is, I don't care what that is. I don't need to hear more lies. I need the spell and I need to leave. After today, I don't want to see you again.” I stopped once I got to the tree line and looked him in the eye. “I want a new guide.”

He nodded sympathetically. “You have every right to.” I rolled my eyes. “I really don't know how else to make you believe that she loved you. I thought for certain if I got you here, you'd just see it.”

I snorted. “Then what? My heart would suddenly grow fourteen sizes and I would bring her back and we would save you? Everyone would get what they want and there would be no consequences?”

A smile ticked at the edges of his mouth. “Not precisely like that, but you have the idea.”

This guy couldn't take a hint. “Let me state this very clearly so you can understand. Your problem with the gods isn't my problem. My mother may have ruined her life and mine trying to help you, but I'm not going to make that same mistake. Get over your disappointment somewhere away from me. I have an exit to find.”

“The fence surrounds the entire property. Are you prepared to climb?” He leaned against a nearby tree trunk. “If so, I will stay. I would love to watch you fall on your ass a few times.”

“Then open the gate.”

His eyes crinkled at the edges. “Why should I?”

“You killed my father. I think you owe me.”

He laughed and snowflakes came down larger and fluffier. “Oh, is that what you think? You're wrong. I didn't kill anyone. But if I have a debt to be paid, it's to your mother. I owe you nothing. If you require
my
assistance, I believe there are deals to be made.” With that he disappeared.

Son of a—“Wait, come back.”

He reappeared. “Yes?”

I mentally counted to five before I spoke. “Will you show me how to open the gate?”

“What will I get in return?” He crossed his arms over his chest.

“What do you want? And it can't be that I free you. It isn't worth that.”

He came so close, I was forced to look up at him. “I want to talk to you alone for ten minutes without you being contrary. You have to listen to everything I have to say without comment.”

His face was entirely too attractive. His strong square jaw was peppered with stubble, his wide set hazel eyes squinted like he was looking into the sun, and his full lips were set in a straight, serious line. But it was the three seemingly permanent lines between his eyebrows that fascinated me the most. “Fine.”